a story of family, love and sacrifice--and an extraordinary secret /
First Statement of Responsibility
Peter Papathanasiou.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Crows Nest, NSW, Australia :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Allen & Unwin,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
327 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates :
Other Physical Details
illustrations (some color) ;
Dimensions
24 cm
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Peter Papathanasiou is the son of migrants and grandson of refugees. His parents emigrated from Greece to Australia in 1956 but were unable to have children, a huge sorrow - and shame - for them among Australia's Greek community and their own family. Finally, in 1973, Peter's uncle and aunt in Greece offered to have a baby and give it to his parents to raise as their own in Australia. Peter was that baby, born in 1974 and given up by his biological parents so that a childless sister could become a mother. Peter grew up an only child in Australia, finally discovering his true parentage in 1999 when his mother revealed the secret of his birth and the sacrifice that lay behind. By then, Peter's birth mother had died, but he found he had two older brothers still living in northern Greece. This is where the story begins. What follows is a moving and compelling memoir of family and place, as Peter traces his parents' journey to Australia, their struggle as migrants, and the very different world that they came from - a world where the bond of family was so strong, a husband and wife were prepared to make an extraordinary gift.